Internal-combustion engine.



G. M. FAIRFIELD.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1912.

1,031,991., Patented July 9,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

II II II II I I G. M. FAIRFIELD.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented July 9, 1912.

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GEORGE M. FAIRFIELD, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE M. FAIRFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing in San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Com bustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to internal combustion engines of the class in which the commonly employed puppet valves for controlling the admission and exhaust are replaced by slide valves of novel construction. It has heretofore been-proposed to employ in this class of engines cylindrical slide valves or sleeves concentric with and surrounding the piston in order "to give large port areas and to obtain a quick opening and closing of the ports. By such construction noise incident to the use of puppet valves is avoided, the use of springs is done away with and very high speed may be obtained.

The object of my invention is to improve engines of this general type in order to render them more eflicient in operation and more economical construction. With this in view I have provided a construction in which two segmental slide valves are arranged to reciprocate in slide-ways provided between the engine casing and a cylindrical shell which surrounds the piston, andI have {Wovidcd novel packing means to prevent eakage and a new system'of lubrication which contributes to the efficient operation of the mechanism.

In the wKmmpanying drawings :-Figure 1 shows a vertical central section on the line l--l of Fig. 2 through so much of an internal combustion engine embodying my imn'ovcnmnts as is necessary to illustrate my invention, Fig. 2 is a view artly in elevation, partly in section, and with parts broken away, showing certain features of construetion. .l ig. 3 shows a transverse section on the line 3-4: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 1s a perspec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1912.

Patented July 9, 1912.

Serial No. 670,290.

E carries packing rings 6 and is jointed to a connecting rod E operated in the usual way. The diameter of the piston is cons1d erably less than that of the casing and there.

is a space between the piston and the inner walls of the casing occupied by the cylindri- I cal shell F, the spacing segments (it, and the segmental valves H H. In this way the piston is made to move in cont-act with a stationary unbroken or smooth surface without undue friction which would be caused if the valves came into direct contact with the piston and moved difierentially. The shell F is made thin so'that the heat generated may be readily dissipated and the valves 11, H are also made thin for a similar purpose. The shell F is truly cylindrical and is concentric with the casing and piston. It is formed with horizontal flanges f which rest on the crank casing and the shell extends to the top of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1. It is provided with ports X, Y in line with the admission and exhaust ports X and Y. The segmental spacing plates G are preferably each made to occupy slightly more than a quarter of the space between the sheltF and the casing A, and they are secured at their lower ends to the shell, as indicated at g on opposite sides of the engine, leaving spaces between their vertical edges which are occupied by the valves H, H. In this way slide-ways are provided for the valves in which they reciprocate vertically and the entire space between the shell and the casing is occupied by the segments and valves.

The admission and exhaust valvesH, H are provided with ports w, y and are connected by rods J, J with crank shafts K, K which may be actuated in any suitable way to move the valves at the proper times. Horizontal packing rings L are sunk in the casing above and belowthe admission and exhaust ports in contact with which the valves move, and vertically arrangedspring pressed packing strips M-are sunk in the casing on opposite sides of the ports. In

this way the gases are confined in the casing, 110

leakage in all directions being effectively prevented.

walls extending from the top of the casing,

past the groove Z of the upper packing ring L to the groove Z of the lower ring so that the packing strips may be conveniently slid into place.- The upper portions of the grooves m above the top packing ring I also serve to conduct the lubricant to the valves H, H. The cylinder head has paclo ing rings 0. This arrangement of packing has been found to be most efficient in preventing leakage.

In order to thoroughly lubricate the en gine, I form each of the spacing segments G on its inner side with a vertical groove Q which connects with a supply pipe B through which lubricating fluid may be supplied by a pump or other suitable means. The lubricant rises through the grooves Q, and fills the groove S at the top of the easing from which it passes to the valves. The piston may be lubricated in any suitable way, the most obvious way being to supply it with lubricant from the crank chamber as usual. In order to further distribute the lubricant each side of the shell F may be formed with a vertical groove Q, registering with a corresponding groove Q in an adjacent segment G, and the groove Q may connect-with lateral grooves g which may be made to register or coincide with corresponding grooves .9" formed on the inner side of the corresponding segment G.

While I prefer to employ two supply pipes B, one may be used. In either event, the lubricating fluid will be thoroughly distributed-to efficiently lubricate the valves which may be operated at high speed, with great ease of movement and Without danger of leakage. By employing segmental slidevalves and spacers in segmental form, I can very economically produce them. The

"valves and spacers may be cut from cylinders with but little waste of material and can be ground or otherwise machined with great facility ta put them in proper condition to fit exactly in the space between the inner cylindrical shelland the inner wall of the engine casing.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with the engine casmg and piston, of a stationary cylindrical shell interposed between the piston and cas ing and extending from the top of the easing to the bottom thereof, spacing segments interposed between the shell and the casing having slide-ways between them, segmental them and one of which has a vertical groove for conveying lubricating material, an annular groove at the top of the engine casing for distributing the lubricant and, slidevalves mounted to reciprocate in said before mentioned slide-Ways which receive lubricant'from said distributing groove.

3. The combination with the engine casing and piston, of the stationary cylindrical shell interposed between the piston'and casing and having a vertical groove for conveying lubricating material, spacing segments interposed between the casing and piston having slide-ways between them, an annular groove at the top of the engine casing for distributing the lubricant, and slide valves mounted to reciprocate in said slideways.

4. The combination with the engine casing and piston, of a cylindrical shell interposed between the piston and casing and having a vertical groove connecting with lateral grooves for-conveying and distributing lubricating material, spacing segments interposed between the casing and piston having slide-ways between them, an annular groove at the top of the engine casing for distributing the lubricant, and slide-valves mounted to reciprocate in said slide-ways.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. GEORGE M. FAIRFIELD.

Witnesses;

' LLOYD B. WIGHT,

M. E. BURRELL. 

